Key partnerships strengthened school district amid crises

The California Labor Management Initiative promotes collaboration among union and management leaders to develop better outcomes for students, staff, parents and communities.

Being a part of this labor-management partnership since 2015 has helped the St. Helena Unified School District – located in rural Napa Valley – build  “a deep level of mutual respect” among the school district, governing board and the district’s two unions – the St. Helena Teachers Association and Chapter 287 of the California School Employees Association, according to then-Superintendent Marylou Wilson.

When the school district faced multiple emergencies over the next several years, from wildfires to the pandemic, this strong labor-management relationship played a key role in weathering these crises.

Catastrophe after catastrophe 

From October 2017 to October 2019, St. Helena faced school closures from major wildfires that brought drifting smoke and caused blackouts.

In March 2020, COVID struck and schools closed for eight months. As the new school year approached that fall, the district considered reopening schools but plans were halted after two more devastating wildfires.

St. Helena School District faced a near-constant uphill battle to effectively serve the needs of its student body, employees and families. Difficult decisions had to be made during unprecedented times and with uncertainty about funding availability.

“We knew we [all] had to unite to find solutions to the problems that confronted us,” said school district Director of Human Resources Chris Heller. Having a trusting relationship and good communication between the administration and the unions, as well as between the superintendent and the board, helped leaders make swift decisions in the face of this uncertainty.

Collaboration through crises 

From the onset of the wildfires, Wilson organized an emergency team to lead decision making and coordination that included the superintendent’s cabinet, leaders of both unions, the school board president, district directors, school principals, as-needed district experts and Boys and Girls Club representatives. Together they navigated complex issues, from transportation and technology needs to safety protocols and planning for school re-opening.

COVID was especially challenging, particularly with work situations upended for most school staff. The district and unions negotiated a memorandum of understanding to reconcile new work circumstances. It outlined teacher responsibilities for managing virtual schooling, addressed employees working out of classification and identified requirements for returning to in-person instruction, for example.

Both parties worked cooperatively and focused on employees’ well-being. The district even provided employees with a bonus during the pandemic from money received from the state. “I think that tightened the desire to work together,” said Wilson.

Prepared for the future

Teacher union president Brandon Farrell said that understanding each other’s perspectives has created a mutual willingness among the district and unions to collaboratively continue identifying and working toward mutually beneficial solutions. With solid labor-management relationships in place and a collective spirit of togetherness, St. Helena Unified School District remains resilient in the face of future crises.

Editor’s note: This blog post was adapted from the CA LMI “Spotlight” newsletter, written by Julia Coppich – read more in this issue. You can find information about how to start or strengthen a labor-management partnership at dol.gov/LMPP.